THOUGHTS, MEANDERINGS AND SOLILOQUIES, FACT AND FICTION WITH A LITTLE HUMOUR & BITCHING THROWN INTO THE MIX. TELLING IT LIKE IT IS FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT. A CROATIA RELATED INFORMATIONAL BLOG WITHOUT THE MAINSTREAM BS & NOT DEVOTED TO STAMPS, COINS, SPORTS, MUSIC OR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, BUT IF IT'S CROATIA STUFF, YOU JUST MAY FIND IT HERE...

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Friday, 30 September 2016

This is just some old news I'm throwing out there, actually it's not really even news but just an amusing commercial from last summer. And I was only just reminded of it by chance because just a few days ago Casino Royale was on television. (Which is also the one that features Ivana Miličević as Valenka btw, the poisoning beauty villain who poisons his martini...for love. More about her at a previous post HERE)

I don't recall ever seeing this commercial on this side of the pond, so maybe it wasn't used here or I just wasn't watching the commercials at the time, but whatever. Basically, the quaint coastal town of Rovinj in the northwestern Istra peninsula region of Croatia (aka Istra county, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic sea and shared by Croatia, Slovenia and Italy), was used as the backdrop for the escape chase scenes in the commercial.

As part of its global campaign for the James Bond film ‘Spectre’ last year, Heineken unveiled the TV ad featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond, the high adrenaline spot sees the famous spy in a high-speed boat chase along with a montage of Rovinj and surrounding area during the chase scenes.

It starts off good, like a typical James Bond flick at the start, but then they went with the 60's Spiderman music at the 12 second mark for some reason, it's still quirky and amusing though. If you did see the commercial before and were wondering about the location scenes, well now you know. Will he make his escape or will it be the end of James Bond once and for all? Check it out for yourselves to find out...

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

‘Ljepota lažnog sjaja’ (Beauty of fake shine) an art exhibition in Zagreb is highlighting the problem of forged counterfeit art.

This piece that I just came across seemed kind of worth noting, it's not an actual art exhibit like I've touched upon previously a few times, but an art exhibition that opened today in the capital Zagreb featuring ony fake and forged artwork confiscated by the Croatian police...

Hmmm? A faked and forged art exhibit is rare enough, but an art exhibit organized by the Croatian police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs? (Croatian: Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske or just MUPHR) Well that's practically unheard of and something one doesn't come across very often, if at all, I haven't anyway. The current city I'm in regularly has annual police bike auctions, but that's different where all the lost and stolen bikes recovered that were never claimed are put brought out and sold to the highest bidder, to be stolen again. (I think it leads the country in stolen bikes actually, mall fuckos and bar stabbings/shootings per capita also), but a counterfeit and forged art exhibit? Now that's different and interesting enough to add here.

This exhibition, is titled ‘Ljepota lažnog sjaja’ (Beauty of fake shine), and it's being held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Zagreb (39 Savska street) and will feature counterfeit art seized by the police since 2009.

Of course these days you can find lots of fake things, I come across lots of instances of fake watches, fake sunglasses, fake designer labels on fake clothing items, fake hats, fake shoes and many more fake things all the time. And copying a work of art for your personal use or to practice or out of admiration is one thing, but intentionally duplicating a piece of artwork and then trying to pass off the forged art as another persons work is another thing altogether, it's just pure frikin' evil. Because the person isn't just making and/or "selling fake art" and stealing from the artist, instead they're actually ripping their existence and very heart and soul right out of the artist and cramming it back down their throat. Faking art and selling it as an original work of art by another artist truthfully is murder, pure and simple. And the hottest burning places in hell are reserved for those forgers and subversive art terrorists and artist murderers. (as one of numerous similar examples, just last year Sotheby's New York sold a fake Claude Monet for.....$20,410,000 Million. The artwork seen below is not in the 10's of millions of dollars range, but would still go for many thousands of dollars)

There will also be lectures and film screenings held revolving around these topics. The exhibition will run until October 23rd and is open from 8:00 to 16:00 hrs during the week and from 9:00 to 13:00 hrs on weekends. Entry to the exhibition is free. A few related Croatian artists post links at the bottom...

Opening Day address to the press regarding the importance of artistic freedom and evils of forged and faked art, which is a modernday scourge upon the art world and probably one of the most vilest crimes against humanity in this day and age.

A few of the seized fake works of art that were being passed off as originals on display. It's not generally known that trade in counterfeit art is one of the more profitable businesses in the world black markets and at times quite lucrative. Many fakes have even been sold at well known reputable world auctions for multi-million-dollar prices.

Below is a faked sketch attributed to current Croatian-Australian artist Charles Billich also on display. (see previous post croatian-australian-artist-charles-billich for more info about the real Charles Billich)

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

Various Croatian fashion/entertainment articles were hot on the trail of the Croatian President's new dresses after rumours started, and now the shocking secret is out...

Well, I'm in the middle of some important things, top secret correspondences and all that which I'm not at liberty to divulge, so instead here's some recent totally unimportant but amusing information to ponder. (I was going to touch upon the recent tabloid news about the provincial Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne being spotted wearing some very shocking and controversial eye glass frames at a local Wendy's last week, but then thought this topic is probably better suited for this blog and the readership, because it's always and at all times all about and for the readership)

Now I'm not a fashionista or guru of fashions or some kind of aficionado of fashions though remember, not at all and don't want be. I couldn't tell you a thing about the numerous stitches, threads used, patterns, buttons/zipper options or various materials used, and again I just don't care, besides I haven't done this topic in quite a while.

You see, I only originally decided to start touching upon this topic quite a while ago because sometimes I would open up my homepage or turn on television and regularly there would be news, entertainment programs or articles going on and on ad nauseum about this or that Hollywood celebrity or model or American singer wearing whatever clothes of some major European or other well known fashion house/label. Even during the height of the terrorist attacks, Fort McMurray fires or various mall/school shootings instead obsessively chattering and writing about what brand/label this celebs' dress is, that shirt, those shoes or gown or who wore what better etc, and so I decided right then and there to let the world world know that there's Croatian designers and designs too that are worth knowing about I think. (And some of their stuff has won prestigious awards, even been worn by some celebrities at the Oscars etc, and some of them even looked better and were much less expensive than the ones getting all the press)

Heck, even the fashion house Lanvin, (which are not a nickle and dime local shoe store brand exactly, or shoes you'll find on clearance at your local strip mall shoe store during the "Week after Boxing Week" sale), they went out and actually named and designed some of their shoes after Croatian cities believe it or not, (post about that HERE), so that has to mean something, designer shoes instead of a disease or always just food items is a positive thing the way I see it. And a world famous fashion brand is not going to be inspired and name shoes after a city in the first place if their fashion is shitty and they wear pathetic fashions in that city, and would be better off having a potato or a new donut flavour named after the city. On top of that, many people probably don't know that the modern day necktie/cravat as we know it, originated as a fashion statement tradition by Croatian soldiers during the Thirty Years War in the 1600's. (more about that interesting history HERE).

Anyway, this spontaneous post is strictly about Nato fashion choices and the part that some Croatian fashion designs have played lately, solely for the benefit of the reader...

At the UN General Assembly in New York recently, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic was seen wearing ELFS creations by the popular Croatian designers.

Her recent look has earned a lot of likes and numerous positive comments on social media, especially by the ELFS fashion house. This is not the first time that the president has worn a dress by ELFS though, as she's also been seen wearing designs by other Croatian designers such as the Zagreb based Stolnik fashion house, Martina Budak and others. (Which btw after browsing around, I think this dress actually would have looked pretty cool too while giving a U.N. speech or at some Nato function, really show the subversives, various specimens and terrorist wanabees you mean business and aren't playing games or going to give them bouquets of flowers when their time comes)

A few days ago she raised eyebrows by wearing a red dress in Split at the opening conference of the Military Committee of the NATO Alliance. What do I think about all this? Well it's a good change, and definitely good exposure for ELFS and the Croatian designers. But it makes sense also, to at least once in a while wear designs and clothes designed by your own designers, after all there's lots of Croatian designers and fashion houses coming out with creative, good quality clothes for men and women, so why not wear them? And I've seen some ridiculous and absurd United Nations General Assembly Fashion examples over the years that's for sure, so what better place than there to wear your nations fashion and clothing designs? It's practically the perfect place to do so. (The United Nations General Assembly and Nato is pretty well just mainly about the preservation and protection of the nation's fashion industry and designs anyway, which is likewise an extension of it's historical cultural dynamics and civilizational process and experience, of it's linear progress, of the nation's hopes and dreams and future epochs. It's a part of the sum total of aspirations and ideals that Croatian history has fought bravely for and defended throughout many centuries and even today)

Well, at least she's not wearing dresses by some of the other more world famous fashion houses that sometimes go for thousands of dollars, her dresses seen here are fairly simple, not too edgy alternative or provacative or fancy-shmancy, and I found out these particular ones run only about $200-$500. Definitely not affecting the economy or a burden to taxpayers.

Now, I don't have too like every dress choice of course, just like I don't have to like every single thing she says or does either. Because there are some decisions in the past I don't agree with and would have said or done differently, just because if the President drinks root beer and a certain type of cheese it doesn't mean that I also have to be a fan of the same and likewise have the same likes regarding everything. (For instance, I was extremely disappointed when during the Nato summit in Split video below, there was no mention whatsoever about the terrible tragedies of the Dolphin disaster taking place over the years, the magnanimous dolphins have been saving Croatian lives for many, many centuries, even sacrificing themselves to save Croatian swimmers and sailors since even medieval times, but not even a mention about the life-threatening dangers to their existence that they're exposed to these days? They deserve better than that)

For instance also, shortly after she was elected President last year, I came across an article mentioning what toppings she puts on her pizza and hamburgers and the best way to prepare škampi na buzaru. I immediately thought no frikin' way would I put that topping on my pizza and not add a few others instead, and I would also definitely go with more wine and garlic for the škampi na buzaru, including chili pepper flakes also, stuff like that.

Personally, I also prefer the more serious looking, edgier photos I've seen over the years, I've come across plenty of models wearing even flowers on dresses these days looking more enigmatic, intense, mysterious etc. Sort of like Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, Greta Garbot or Veronika Lake, (even Maude Fealy, Mary Miles Minter, et al) instead of Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth or Judy Garland from back in the day. (the Shirley Temple/Doris Day-ish ones I just simply don't agree with, those are better suited for ice-cream, hair conditioner or chewing gum commercials and advertisements)

Anyway, this has been some recent gossip in the Croatian entertainment news, and below are a few examples of the designs she wore...

Wearing an ELFS design during the holidays last year. Official website: www.elfs.hr

The shocking and controversial word got around last December when Kolinda was seen wearing an ELFS "Milena" dress, (above), which was the very same dress worn by Croatian singer Andrea Šušnjara on local television a week earlier (below). Within a few days the taboo topic of wearing the same dress and design pattern that was already previously being worn by a celebrity was a major media exposé topic, gossip and numerous articles ensued about the controversy insinuating the Croatian President wanted to become a singer instead or take up singing.

The incriminating photo discovered by the fashion police categorically proving that this particular ELFS "Milena" design dress was indeed already previously worn by the Croatian singer before Kolinda wore it.

Wearing a red dress in Split at the opening conference of the Military Committee of the NATO Alliance, after discussing the mystery behind the epidemic of crying Canadian soldiers committing suicides en masse after returning from Afghanistan. Her red dress was also a much talked about topic of the day receiving numerous compliments from various Nato officials and generals.

As seen yesterday before a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York wearing the ELFS "Agnetha" dress.

The above same dress seen on a catwalk. It was later discovered that this particular "Agnetha" dress was first showcased during the BIPA FASHION.HR campaign this past March. Image: www.elfs.hr

More intrigue was later brought to the surface of the shocking exposé that was spiralling into a full-fledged fashion vortex conspiracy. Besides the Croatian President and model Ecija Ivušić being seen wearing the ELFS dress, likewise Croatian RTL Television show host Edita Misirić was also spotted wearing the same "Agneth" dress just days ago. The situation has been described by fashion experts as "the Croatian Agnetha Trinity." Image: www.tportal.hr

Video and below photo from the recent Military Committee of the NATO Alliance Summit in the city of Split. The red dress caused a commotion at the Nato summit and within 10 minutes the media were told to leave the conference room until things subsided. More information at www.morh.hr

By comparison, as Croatian Ambassador to the United States in 2009 after Croatia joined Nato, most experts agree her wardrobe looked more librarian-like or similar to what an art gallery/museum curator would wear, plain and conservative compared to the more feminin looking recent ELFS designs.

A few years later while in the role of Nato Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, her fashion choices seemed to have become erratic at times, one day looking like a bingo hall queen and then the next day like a typical shady tavern hostess or some ghetto alleyway scat princess....drab, lacklustre and boringly predictable like a Walmart shopper on a Sunday morning.Have her recent fashion choices with ELFS been correct and the right choice? I'll let the reader muse about that themselves.

Here and above seen wearing ELFS again in Dubrovnik this past August along with leaders from Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia for "The Three Seas Initiative."

Wearing the ELFS "Agnetha" dress again while meeting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko after her UN General Assembly speech in New York. Will her decisions to wear Croatian designs be a boon or bane for national security, regional and world peace, the economy, the war on terrorism and subversives? We'll have to wait and see. I'll update this important topic in the future as more information becomes available.

...and meanwhile in Alba Bulgarica Serbia, as usual supporters of 90's Serb war criminals, rapists, genocidal ethnic cleansing maniacs and other Serb church members were instead busy burning American, European Union, Croatia, Nato, Albanian flags, Kosovo flags, Ukrainian and a number of other flags in fashion effigy. (but waving Serb-Libyan Gaddafi fashion flags instead which is weird) Along with songs and chants of "To hell with Non-Serbs and the Non-Serb fashions We'll take them Kosovar Albanians back to the Sanjak of Smederevo and make them wear our fashions or else!", and other similar songs. It's really not that interesting but it's good related fashion news to know.

The Budapest State Opera will present the 19th-century Croatian composer Ivan Zajc’s opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski (Miklós Zrínyi) on September 18, the Director Szilveszter Ókovács said. The opera tells the story of common Hungarian-Croatian nobleman Miklós Zrínyi and the battle of Szigetvár in which he and his heavily outnumbered troops tried to contain and stop the advancing Ottoman jihad forces and their Serb allies commanded by Sultan Suleiman I, the Magnificent, in 1566.

A performance at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek.

The Budapest Opera will show the piece as part of the Hungarian state’s "Zrínyi-Szigetvár 1566 Memorial Year" commemorating the 450th anniversary of the event. It will be performed by the Croatian National Theatre of Osijek (Eszék), Ókovács said. Gordan Grlić Radman, the Croatian ambassador, described the three-act piece as his country’s most outstanding opera and Zrínyi the symbol of loyalty, courage and the love of homeland and freedom. The chief patrons of the performance are Hungarian President János Áder and his Croatian counterpart President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

This production of the opera Nikola Šubić Zrinjski directed by Nina Kleflin premiered in November 2012. However, the very first world premiere of the opera took place in Zagreb on the 4th of November 1876. It was well received by audiences and critics alike. Zajc's work mixes then current European operatic conventions and styles with his own knowledge of Croat melody, which resulted in a sound that was deemed superior to even many Italian romantic operas of the time, for this reason Zajc is often called the Croatian Verdi. It is dominated by harmonious melodies, and the musical expressions of the two opposing cultures: the progressive enlightened Renaissance world of Central Europe against the advancing jihads of the Muslim Ottoman Empire from the Levant and Sanjak of Smederevo. Its enduring fame is due in large part to its climactic chorus, "U boj, u boj!" ("To battle, to battle!"). This excerpt was actually composed ten years prior to the rest of the opera, and was presented as a choral work. It can often be heard at gala performances and celebrations as a mantra to never give in or give up.

On 18 September, 2016 the most significant historical piece of Croatian music, the three-act opera by Ivan pl. Zajc entitled Nikola Šubić Zrinjski (Zrínyi Miklós) was presented at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest. Hungarian audiences can see this Croatian national opera in the production of the Croatian National Theatre of Osijek featuring nearly 250 guest artists.

The famous Battle of Siget performed by the Hungarian pop-rock outfit lifted the crowd to their feet in Osijek

As part of the Hungarian week festivities in Osijek, Croatia, a modern rock opera musical by an Hungarian outfit performed a play based on the 16th century Croatian Ban/Viceroy Nikola Šubić Zrinski and the famous Battle of Siget in 1566.

The 16th century Croatian Ban (pronounced like the word Ban in autobahn and meaning Viceroy/Governor) Nikola Šubić Zrinski and the historical Siege of Szigetvár (Croatian: Bitka kod Sigeta) is a battle that is still an inexhaustible source of inspiration for many artists today, even after 450 years. And not only Croatian artists, but also among Hungarian artists as well. Proof of that is the modern rock-musical "Zrinyi 1566", which Friday night performed the Siget battles through a modern music outfit, and the Osijek audience rose to their feet in the City Garden Hall (Gradski Vrt) after the performance.

The play was performed as part of the Hungarian week festivities, and organized by the Consulate General of Hungary in the city of Osijek. The artistic ensemble, which produces a large number of artists, singers, actors and dancers, were led by Sándor Sasvári, a famous Hungarian artist, who in his rich career has played in famous musicals such as "Les Miserables", "Evita" and "Phantom of the Opera" among others.

And this is why Sasvári was the holder of the title role, convincingly portraying Croatian Ban Zrinski and acting with his powerful voice thrilling the audience, after the rock opera performance they were greeted by long and loud applause. Two encores followed, in which the Hungarian artists performed the main song performances again.

"I am very pleased that we were able to perform this play precisely in the city of Osijek, especially where I personally was able to portray the role Nikola Šubić Zrinski" he said.. "It is a demanding role, because it is known that Zrinski and his comrades fought for 37 days and finally gave their lives for their country and freedoms, the play is characterized by an excellent director, quality music and top performers. This was our first, but hopefully not the last time hosting this performance in Croatia. It is my desire that this musical will also be performed in the town of Čakovec, at the very 13th century castle of Nikola Šubić Zrinski." - said Sasvári before the show.

It was a dynamic directorial performance, especially in the content, performance and musical terms. Attractive scenes followed one after another, as well as pop ballads with powerful rock songs throughout, creating a harmonious whole. And not a moment was boring, even though the show lasted three hours. There was intrigue, love (man for the woman and woman for the man, but first and foremost the homeland and freedom in this instance), the whole range of emotions, from joy to sadness to honour, pride and joy again. In short, it was an ode to the courage and heroism in the best manner of an authentic and epic European musical.

And as the Viennese musical experts ably talk music story of Mozart, yet Moravetz Levente, author of the libretto and director, and authors of music Balasy Szabolcs, Krisztián Horváth and Zoltán Papp revived the Battle os Siget into an interesting modern music outfit.

Simple but effective set design, attractive costumes, excellent direction, especially the final scene of heroic battles and the heroic death of Zrinski and all the defenders of Siget fortress, was dominated by skilled ballet dancers who floated as crows, the messengers of death. They and the other performers were great, especially the title roles, as well as Slaven Vidakovic, who is an actor and director of the Croat Theatre of Pécs in Hungary, and led the Zrinski Guard from Čakovec during the play. It was a performance to remember, confirming that an important historical event can be interpreted in an interesting and attractive way in the modern age, and still lose none of its heart and soul or historical importance.

This article I came across just by chance, and it came out already in 2014, but it's still interesting enough to throw in here even if I don't collect coins. That being mainly for the less well known Croatian connection to the topic and something that many readers may not have known.

That being that this famous Hungarian 17th century noble was also a member of the famous and historically important House of Zrinski, as well as brother to the famous Croatian Ban (a Viceroy/Governor title and pronounced like the word "Bahn") Petar Zrinski. And both of them were great-grandsons of the famous Croatian Ban and military leader Nikola Šubić Zrinski who likewise became renown and a hero all across Europe in 1556 after the Siege of Szigetvár. An epic defensive battle that was proclaimed by many leaders and writers in Europe as "the battle that saved civilization." The battle stopped the advancing jihads of the Ottomans along with many of their Serb allies and supporters from Dar Al Jihad, their ultimate goal being to conquer Vienna and beyond.

However, Nikola Zrinski himself also never forgot to consider himself and remind that he was a Croat, in 1659 he wrote in a letter to his friend and noble Ivan Ručić in Zagreb, who was the Deputy Prefect, a famous sentence in Latin: "Ego mihi conscius aliter sum, etenim non degenerem me Croatam et quidem Zrinium esse scio", which translates as: "Otherwise, I am aware and indeed I know, and I will not deny that I am a Croat, and that a Zrinski."

The Battle of Szigetvár and its legacy is still famous in Croatia and Hungary even today and inspired both the Hungarian epic poem "The Siege of Sziget" (discussed below) and the Croatian "Nikola Šubić Zrinski opera." For the period in history marked by the Ottoman wars in Europe, they are considered national heroes in both Croatia and Hungary. Anyway, definitely interesting if you are of Croatian descent and didn't know any of this before, you can hit the links to find out more...

(If the various names and surnames confuse you, you may want to check out croatiansurnameshistory.blogspot.ca for related interesting stuff which helps explain Croatian surname suffixes, including even the surname Zrinski. I also found out by chance that to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Siege of Sziget, Hungarian and Croatian filmmakers are currently cooperating in producing a documentary about the famous battle, which is set to be released at the end of this year, that should be pretty interesting. More info at dailynewshungary.com)

Miklós Zrínyi as author, military leader and Ban of Croatia, known in Croatia as Nikola Zrinski (Nikola VII. Zrinski)he was a great-grandson of the famous Croatian Ban, military leader and noble Nikola Šubić Zrinski.

The National Bank of Hungary have issued two new coins which honor one of their country’s most celebrated leaders who has achieved admiration as a military and political leader as well as being recognized for his contributions to Military strategy, Hungarian literature and poetry. On the observance of the 350th year of the death of Miklós Zrínyi (Croatian: Nikola Zrinski, 1620 – 1664) the National Bank has issued two coins on which pay tribute to a true Hungarian patriot of the 17th century.

Born in Čakovec (Present-day Croatia) in the Kingdom of Hungary-Croatia to Croatian Ban/Viceroy, warrior and noble Jury V Zrinski, (this at a time after the medieval Kingdom of Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in the 12th century), and his Hungarian wife Magdolna (Magdalena) Széchy, the Zrinyi’s were a Croatian-Hungarian noble family. From Zrinyi’s earliest years of his education he was an enthusiastic student of the Hungarian language and literature. From 1635 to 1637, he accompanied a canon of Esztergom, a city in Northern Hungary on a long educative tour through the Italian Peninsula. Over the next few years, he learned the art of war in defending the Croatian frontier against the Ottoman Empire, and proved himself one of the most important commanders of the age.

In 1645, during the closing stages of the Thirty Years’ War, he acted against Swedish troops in Moravia and equipped the army corps at his own expense. At Eger in northern Hungary, he saved the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, who had been surprised at night in his camp by the offensive of Carl Gustaf Wrangel, a high-ranking Swedish noble and military commander. Aside from his military prowess, Zrinyi is also remembered as the author of the first epic poem in Hungarian literature. His most significant literary work regarding the Siege of Szigetvár, “Szigeti veszedelem” (The Peril of Sziget) or “Zrínyiász”, an epic poem written in the Göcsej dialect of Hungarian, was written in the winter of 1648-1649, and was published, under the title of “Adriai tengernek Syrenája” (The Siren of the Adriatic Sea) in Vienna in 1651.

With roots dating to 1546 some members of the Croatian historical military unit "Zrinski Guard Čakovec." TheZrinksi Guard of Čakovec has had hundreds of performances in Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, France, Italy and other places.The uniforms are based on actual real uniforms, historical documents and pictures from the 16th to late 17th century, the black and red coloured uniforms harken back to the Zrinski officers and soldiers.(Above seen during a ceremony in his hometown of Čakovec. In the back can be seen the town's Nikola Zrinski monument in Zrinski Park)

The epic poem was immediately translated into Croatian and published within a year by Miklós's brother, Petar Zrinski (Hungarian: Zrínyi Péter) who, while Miklós was a master of Hungarian, Peter excelled in the Croatian language and it's dialects and wrote poems also. However both Nikola and Petar Zrinski were fluently bilingual in Hungarian and Croatian, and knowing also Venetian Italian, German, Latin and more.

Image of the Serb Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha (Serbian: Мехмед-паша Соколовић) ghoul who was the de facto ruler of the Islamic Ottoman empire armies and their Serb allies. It's not generally known that for the many Croatian nobles and generals, including the Zrinski's, this man and the forces under his command were the epitome of evil and terror. He was the catalyst and architect of numerous jihads against the Croatian lands and other parts of Habsburg Europe, from Dar al-Jihad organizing Islamic conquests into many parts of Europe as a part of their battle of civilizations, a monarch of the westward attacking ghoul armies. (For centuries Serb princes even wed off their own daughters to Ottoman Sultans and military/political leaders with the sole aim of just preserving any remaining personal landowning rights and privileges, and they even helped by assembling Serb volunteers for the Ottoman armies. Because of this the Serbs are the only nation in all of Europe that openly conspired with and assisted the Muslim jihads towards free Europe). By assisting and conspiring with the Ottoman empire, he and numerous other lesser Serb nobles and co-conspirators along with their Serb volunteer soldiers are directly responsible for expediting the Muslim terror and incursions into and towards Europe, for centuries waging wars against western civilization and Europe from their base Sanjak of Smederevo.

Contemporary drawing by famous German engraver Jacob von Sandrart showing Nikola Zrinski as Ban of Croatia. Portrayed defending against the Ottoman forces and Serbs from Dar Al Jihad as commander-in-chief of the Croatian-Hungarian Habsburg army in 1664.

Contemporary drawing commemorating yet another very historical event and one of the most consequential battles in Central European history, known as "The Burning of the Suleiman Bridge".Seen as a great danger to the civilization and control of the continent as well as a threat to freedom of all Central Europe, the bridge was attacked several times, but in 1664 along with over 23,000 mounted cavalry it was finally successfuly set on fire on the specific orders of Nikola Zrinski as leader of the Croatian and Hungarian Habsburg forces and Petar Zrinski as the Ban/Viceroy of Croatia (both seen pictured). The bridge over the Drava river in the north east corner of Croatia near the Hungarian border had a very important role during the centuries of Croatian-Ottoman, Hungarian-Ottoman and overall Habsburg-Ottoman wars. The bridge was planned by the Ottoman empire to be the major link to furthering their westward campaigns to take the nearest strategic Croatian city of Osijek as well as to advance across Hungarian territory towards Vienna, for this reason also using concripted Moorish soldiers and former slave Bashi-Bazouks from Africa also (The Serbian born Ottoman Grand Vizier Sarı Süleyman Pasha and his armies attempted to attack the strategic city of Osijek again and rebuild the bridge in 1687, however the Ottomans were finally crushed at the Second Battle of Mohács a little later that year and he retreated back to his base in Belgrade and then Istanbul where he was executed). The defeat of the Ottoman forces and destruction of the bridge was hailed all across Europe and the Zrinskis were again heroes and saviours of European civilization.

Since already on the topic, here's the cover of the poem book by the Ban (Viceroy/Prince & Governor) of Croatia Petar Zrinski who as mentioned was the brother of Nikola Zrinski. Published in 1660 and as readable and understandable today as 4 centuries ago. The title meaning "Siren of the Adriatic Sea" is read and pronounced exactly the same as it is today. "Adrianskoga Mora Sirena: Groff Zrinski Petar" (A modern day 3rd grader could read it without any issues btw, even much easier than reading the original The Canterbury Tales or any other Geoffrey Chaucer works or Skakespeare English in today's modern English). After Nikola Zrinski wrote the epic poem "The Peril of Sziget" or “Zrínyiász” in the Göcsej dialect of Hungarian and based it on the heroic deeds of their great grandfather Nikola Šubić Zrinski, soon after Petar Zrinski tranlated it into his dialect of Croatian in 1660 and published it as "Siren of the Adriatic Sea". (Adrianskoga mora sirena)

Here's an interesting map related to the topic also, a map of the Croatian lands dedicated to Petar Zrinski, who was the Ban (pronounced like the word "Bahn" meaning Viceroy/Prince & Governor) of Croatia during the 17th century and brother to Nikola Zrinski. The map was created at the workshop of Joannes Blaeu in Amsterdam as an addition to the work by Croatian historian Ivan Lučić, (Latin: Johannes Lucius) "De Regno Dalmatiae et Croatiae libri sex", Amsterdam, 1666. (On the Kingdom of Dalmatia and Croatia in six books) Blaeu had included the map in Atlas Maior in 1667, and dedicated it to Petar Zrinski. At the bottom of the map in the middle it reads..."To the most illustrious and noble Lord, Prince Peter of Zrin, the Ban of the united Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia, (Triune Kingdom) hereditary Ban of the Littoral, hereditary captain of the Legrad fortress and Medimurje peninsula, master and hereditary Prince of Lika, Odorje, Krbava, Omis, Klis, Skradin, Ostrovica, Bribir etc.., Master of Kostajnica and the sliver mine at Gvozdansko, councillor and chamberlain to his anointed imperial majesty, master Ioannes Blaeu dedicates this map". The map highlights the Croatian lands including its regional divisions during the time of Peter Zrinski. Image: obeliscus.hu.

In addition to his poetic works, Zrínyi is also a forerunner of Croatian and Hungarian political thinking and military science. In his essays and manifestos, such as “Mátyás király életéről való elmélkedések” (Reflections on the life of King Matthias) he makes a case for a standing army, a moral renewal of the nation, the re-establishment of the national kingdom and the unification of Royal Hungary with Transylvania. Zrinyi died on the 18th November 1664 in Zrínyifalva (Gornji Kuršanec), in present-day Croatia.

(Interestingly as a sidenote, as Zrinski's name became famous and praised throughout Europe after his actions against the Ottomans, it was said that "only the Zrinski's had the secret of conquering the Ottoman Muslims". At the coronation of Ferdinand IV of Austria, King of the Germans, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, he carried the sword of state, and was made Ban (Viceroy) and Captain-General of Croatia, in this double capacity he presided over many Croatian Parliament Diets. Holy Roman Emperor Leopold offered him the title of Prince, while Pope Alexander VII struck a commemorative medal with the effigy of Zrinski as a field marshal, the Spanish King Philip IV sent him the Order of the Golden Fleece, and the mentioned French King Louis XIV sent a gift of 10,000 thalers and even created him a Peer)

Much like the other Croatian noble lineages with roots originating from the Croatian Kingdom in the Middle Ages, such as the Houses of Frankopan, Hrvatinić, Kačić, Lacković, Kurjaković, Karlović, Gusić et al, the Zrinski noble family history is a branch which descends from the medieval House of Šubić from Bribir. (one of the twelve high princely tribes which constituted Croatian statehood in the early Middle Ages and encompassed today's Šibenik-Knin county, the most well known and outstanding member being the proclaimed "Ban of the Croats" (Latin: Banus Croatorum) as well as the "Lord of all the Bosnia" (Latin: totius Bosniae dominus), Prince and military leader Paul I Šubić of Bribir in 1293). And as the Zrinski family history coincides with the later centuries of Croatian-Hungarian and Habsburg political unions, through intermarriages they were also connected with the above mentioned nobles as well as Hungarian, Bohemian Czech, Polish Piast dynasty, Austrian, Venetan and other Central European dynasties and noble families.

Members of the House of Zrinski are also found on Croatian currency banknotes, coins as well as stamps. Above are House of Zrinski members featured on Hungarian and Croatian stamps. The 2nd Croatian stamp at bottom row features Nikola Zrinjski. Below the Croatian stamp collection from 1996. (More info at www.posta.hr)

The coins, struck by the Mint of Hungary in Budapest, were designed by László Hunyadi, a sculptor living in Marosvásárhely (present-day Târgu Mureş). The obverse of the coin features a bust of Zrínyi as a grown man and inspired by an earlier sketching of him with the denomination below the primary design. The reverse depicts his place of birth, the castle of Csáktornya, (ie: Čakovec Croatia) along with Zrínyi’s motto in Latin “SORS BONA, NIHIL ALIUD” (GOOD LUCK, NOTHING ELSE)

*Update April 13, 2016

Original Nikola Šubić Zrinski Helmet & Sabre To Be Put On Display In Croatia For First Time Since 1577

I came across some interesting related news and images also worth throwing in here. As mentioned previously, Nikola Zrinski/Miklós Zríny was the great-grandson of the famous Croatian Ban, important military leader and noble Nikola Šubić Zrinski, (pronounced like the word bahn and meaning Viceroy/Governor), who likewise became renown and a hero all across Europe in 1556 after the famous and pivotal Siege of Szigetvár.

So to help celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Siege of Sziget, the permanent collection at the Vienna Museum of Art History in Austria is donating the actual helmet and sword that was worn and belonged to Nikola Šubić Zrinski. The helmet, sword and his jacket were stored for safe keeping in Vienna since 1577 by Archduke of Tyrol, Ferdinand II, who was a collector in the second half of the 16th century and made an impressive collection of historical weapons and armour in his castle. The items will be loaned to the Museum of Zrinski Palace/Čakovec Museum of Medjimurje in Čakovec Croatia. (but not the jacket which is too delicate for restoration and in risk of more damage if moved) The helmet and sword have been rarely seen in person by the general public and it will be the first time that they will travel back to Croatia to be exhibited at the Čakovec Museum.

The items will also be highlighted and discussed in a documentary by HRT about the famous, epic and pivotal for Croatian and European history defensive battle, which is currently being filmed and will be aired later this year. (trailer below). Below are some very rare views of the sword and helmet belonging to Nikola Šubić Zrinski.

Matthias Pfaffenbichler who is in charge of the arms and armour collections at the Austrian Museum in Vienna and screenwriter and director at Croatian HRT television Vladimir Brnardić with Zrinki's helmet and sword.

Trailer for the documentary by Croatian HRT television about the famous, epic and pivotal for Croatian and European history defensive battle. (It's interesting that at the hearings before the Committee on Foreign Relations and submitted to the Senate on July 10, 1919, both Polish King John Sobieski and Nikola Šubić Zrinski are mentioned as saviours of Europe and western civilization because they "...rescued them from a strangle-hold, namely, Nikola Zrinski and John Sobieski, one a Croatian and the other a Pole.")

Poster from the announcement of the Zagreb premiere and very first performance of Zajc's "Nikola Šubić Zrinjski" opera in 1876.

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About Me

What is "Croatianicity"? Is it relevant in this day and age? Yes it is, and has been for many centuries. In this country of multiculturalism it can at times be a state of mind or even just those instances where one is aware of one's Croatian ethnic background. (when eating Croatian food or when in the act of seeing written material or an image that is pertaining to Croatians or Croatia) Very similar to:
..."Chineseicity"..."Germanicity"..."Japanicity"...."Polishinicity"..."Irishinicity"..."Spanishinicity"
..."Norwegianicity"..."Lithuanianicity"...
"Russianicity"..."Italianicity"..."Hindustanicity"..."Greekanicity"..."Argentinianicity"..."Danishincity...and also quite a number of other "-icity's", too many to mention. "Croatianicity" just has a more Croatian flavour and theme to it...for obvious reasons.....My domain name for those interested is actually a hybrid and adaption. A domain name that includes "kitty cats", "bubbles", "unicorns", butterflies" or "daisies" would not be wise or appropriate, as here I post and discuss topics of a serious nature at times as well. All spelling mistakes are my own.